Microwave Plasma Torch Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Chemical Characterization of Aromatic Secondary Organic Aerosol

Abstract

Benzene and toluene, primarily emitted from vehicle exhaust, are common volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These aromatic compounds in the atmosphere undergo further photooxidation to form secondary organic aerosol (SOA), which are a primary factor in haze weather. Microwave plasma torch (MPT) is an ambient ionization source based on microwave plasma developed in recent years. Herein, a microwave plasma torch desorption ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (MPT-HRMS) technique was designed for the direct analysis of aromatic SOA in the environment. For environmental haze samples, no pretreatment is required, and over twenty types of aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives or oxidation products can be detected in situ using MPT-HRMS. The possible mechanisms underlying the formation of aromatic SOA were investigated. MPT-HRMS is a powerful technical tool for rapidly tracking non-targeted aromatic SOA and their transformations in the environment. This contributes to an in-depth understanding of the formation mechanisms of SOA and their impact on air pollution.

Keywords: secondary organic aerosol, mass spectrometry, desorption ionization, in-situ detection, oxidation mechanism